Lora Behm

Renewal vs. Refinance: Why They’re Not the Same A lot of people use the terms renewal and refinance interchangeably, but they are actually two very different things. And understanding the difference matters — especially when it comes to the rate you’re offered. What...

Mortgage Renewal Coming Up? You Have More Time Than You Think When people think about mortgage renewals, they often wait until the renewal letter shows up from their lender. By that point, it can feel rushed, stressful, and like there aren’t many options. The reality...

What Credit Score Do You Actually Need to Get a Mortgage? One of the most common questions I get is about credit scores — specifically, what score you actually need to qualify for a mortgage and whether a higher score always means a better rate. What Is Considered...

Fixed vs. Variable Mortgages: How to Decide With variable rates now lower than fixed rates at many lenders, more people are considering variable mortgages again. But choosing fixed versus variable isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision — it really depends on why you’re...

Using Child Tax Credit and Child Support to Qualify for a Mortgage When getting pre-approved, one of the most common things I see is income being left off — and sometimes, that missing income can make a real difference. Many people don’t realize that Child Tax Credit...

Bridge Financing: Why It’s So Confusing (and When You Actually Need It) Bridge financing is one of the most confusing topics in mortgages — and honestly, it can be confusing for me too! But when you need it, understanding how it works can save you a lot of stress....

Why Your Mortgage Approval Amount Isn’t the Same Everywhere A lot of people walk into their bank, get an approval amount, and assume that’s it — that whatever number they’re given is the same number they’d get anywhere else. But that’s simply not the case. Different...

“What’s Your Best Rate?” — The Million-Dollar Question I Get Asked All the Time If there’s one question I hear more than anything else, it’s this one: “What’s your best rate?” And honestly… it’s a fair question. But it’s also one I can’t answer based on a quick phone...

Have someone helping you out with the bills every month? Here’s something most people have no idea about — and it can make a huge difference when you’re trying to qualify for a mortgage: Some lenders actually allow us to use contributory income to help boost your...